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No Extension for Walker Kessler?

I understand having more space but like... lots of teams have space. There aren't a ton of FAs... and not like we are a huge FA market. Maybe its to keep him trade eligible. Its curious to me.
 
I just dont think the Jazz are fully committed to the non-skilled 5 man.

Not that he is likely to be traded or not signed long-term in the future, but I dont think the Jazz are stressed about it
 
Usually this situation happens when the contract is easy aka the "fun max". I don't think Kessler is quite on that level so I'd say there's some potential for Kessler to be moved in the next year.
 
I just dont think the Jazz are fully committed to the non-skilled 5 man.

Not that he is likely to be traded or not signed long-term in the future, but I dont think the Jazz are stressed about it
If that's the case they should move him. Its poor asset management. It makes sense if:

- They think they can get something done next year in FA.
- They think he is asking too much and think they can squeeze him in FA.
- They are planning on shopping him during the year.

As far as young FAs on the market next year... Walker, Ivey, Mathurin, Murray (assuming they don't get extended). You have teams like Washington, Brooklyn, Detroit, Charlotte with cap space. Gets an offer at 35M+ and you could have locked him up at 25Mish... now you pay 40% or let him walk.

Obviously he could tear his ACL an really reduce his value but I think they are playing with fire a little here.
 
Usually this situation happens when the contract is easy aka the "fun max". I don't think Kessler is quite on that level so I'd say there's some potential for Kessler to be moved in the next year.
I doubt he is asking near any kind of max. I would guess its more like he wants 30ish and they are offering 20ish. I could be waaaaaay off. If they are looking at this year's RFA market and thinking they can squeeze him then I think they are misreading the market. A lot more dollars on next year's market.
 
I get the impression that neither side is unhappy with the partnership, but neither side is 100% committed. I'd agree that Hardy likely wants a more skilled big and I'd add that Kessler seems to take tanking/losing harder than most. While it's true that this preserves future cap space, I think the real door they're leaving open is a mid-season trade.

I'll play along. My favorite, dumb trade concept is LeBron to Miami. Lakers are building around Luka and know they can't win the west right now and LeBron's best chance to win a ring is in the East. Lakers get future MIA picks for LeBron, MIA goes all in as this is Riley's best/last shot. Future MIA picks could be considered the premium assets that I'd want for Kessler.
 
I doubt he is asking near any kind of max. I would guess its more like he wants 30ish and they are offering 20ish. I could be waaaaaay off. If they are looking at this year's RFA market and thinking they can squeeze him then I think they are misreading the market. A lot more dollars on next year's market.

I'd agree, seems like they are more likely to be far apart vs having a deal agreed on in place. Whenever an RFA doesn't extend the potential for them to be moved is heightened. Definitely something to keep an eye on going forward.
 
I'd agree, seems like they are more likely to be far apart vs having a deal agreed on in place. Whenever an RFA doesn't extend the potential for them to be moved is heightened. Definitely something to keep an eye on going forward.
I just think of all the times to move him... in season would have him at like 1/4 what his value was at its peak.

"Flexibility" is cute. We have flexibility already. We need good young players more than we need flexibility... even if they aren't perfect.
 
It's interesting to me that Tony put this in:

But the Jazz want to try and turn a corner. They are looking to be as competitive as possible this upcoming season. If, however, they end up winning 20 games and garnering a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, there won’t be many tears shed anywhere in the front office.

He's so careful in talking about the Jazz this way. But seemingly everywhere else on Twitter he's advocating for teams that have a chance to tank to go all out to tank. But here he's going with the AA mantra in implying that the Jazz can be satisfied with whatever comes their way in wins and losses as long as the process goes well.
 
I don't want to say there is no plan... I do think we lack some leadership and decisiveness though. Like an extra 10M in space is fun but who are you signing... Austin Reaves? Man plan the parade.

No trade offer this year will be more than what was offered last year. If wizards/pistons/horncats decide there are no young FAs and throw 4/150M at Walker are we letting him walk or taking on a potentially negative contract.

Maybe all the Ainges just wait too long lol.
 
Austin said every dollar matters in contracts now days. Gone are the days of automatic contracts. In short, I am cheap and wont just pay big contracts to guys who are helping us be just OK.
 
I love walker but I doubt he is the starting center on a championship contender being paid +20% of the salary cap. I think there is a world where he is 15% of the cap with the right pieces around him. But does he stop Wemby? Does he play ultra effective against a warriors team that spreads you out? Not sure.
 
Austin said every dollar matters in contracts now days. Gone are the days of automatic contracts. In short, I am cheap and wont just pay big contracts to guys who are helping us be just OK.
This is the reason to lock him up in this cap environment imo. Lets say he is somewhere in the 25-30M range right now. If he gets to FA healthy he almost certainly will make 5-10M more than that... even if he doesn't improve much.

If his ask is high then I get it... there is some benefit to maybe squeezing him. If his ask is reasonable... getting to RFA likely won't yield a smaller contract. And there is the chance for the $40M per year from a stupid team (and there are a few with space next year)
 
I know we all love leverage talk... but... we have a good amount of leverage right now. If everything stays the same and Kessler gets to FA then the leverage tilts. He will have suitors. This isn't Kuminga and the cap environment could produce some pretty silly contracts next year. If he has a glow up... not only does that hurt the tank this season but that's when he could get all the way up to something ludicrous. You are setting yourself up for the best of both worlds.
 
I think the Jazz are just keeping their options open for another season. There's a possibility that they could end up with Quaintance or Cenac in this next draft, and it's possible that Kessler's play this season could affect his value one way or another.

There’s some risk his deal gets out of hand, but it’s probably not a big risk.
 
It's interesting to me that Tony put this in:



He's so careful in talking about the Jazz this way. But seemingly everywhere else on Twitter he's advocating for teams that have a chance to tank to go all out to tank. But here he's going with the AA mantra in implying that the Jazz can be satisfied with whatever comes their way in wins and losses as long as the process goes well.
I think the Jazz want to be the most competitive 20 win team in NBA history and draft either Boozer, AJ, or Darryn Peterson
 
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